DC Comics Announcements: Scott Snyder, Gail Simone, and Jim Starlin

The biggest, yet ’twas expected news coming outta DC Comics headquarters this week is that superstar writer Scott Snyder (Batman, American Vampire) will be leaving his pet project Swampthing after issue #18, which will wrap up the epic crossover Rot World! Here’s what Snyder had to say via his Twitter:

Hey guys – was going to wait until we got a little closer to announce this, but yes, Swamp Thing #18 will be my last issue, and Yanick’s too.
To be 100% clear: @YanickPaquette and I have been planning this ending – both an ending for us as creators on the book, and for the storyline we started way back in issue #1 – for a long time. Even before we signed on to do Swampy, we both knew it would be a limited run, as we had other projects in the pipeline we knew would eventually come to pass. But the chance to do Swamp Thing, to bring back a character we’ve both loved dearly since childhood, was just too thrilling to turn down.

That said, we both ended up staying longer than we’d planned, too, out of love of the character, love for the story we were getting to tell, love for our team, and above all, out of love and gratitude for you guys, the fans who’ve helped us do something here that many people said was impossible – make Swamp Thing a viable book in the DCU. For that, all of us on team Swampy will be forever grateful to you guys.

Truthfully, these characters are some of my personal favorites in comics, ever – the early issues by@LenWein and @BernieWrightson played a huge part in making me want to write in the first place. Then the fearless work by Moore, Bissette… The thing is, Swamp Thing has always been a series where creators did these crazy things, where they experimented, pushed themselves, imagined big, took risks – and the fact that you guys have supported our team, as we’ve tried our own crazy ideas on the book, story-wise, artistically…. it really means the world to us. It’s been a tremendous honor to write this book. And to have worked on it alongside friends like the art team – and one of my best friends in the world, and one of mu writing idols, @JeffLemire… Don’t know how to thank you all for giving me the opportunity.

Anyway, all this sounds so fucking sad, BUT – please know that these issues coming up next are the big ones – the status-quo-changing-mega-ones 🙂 – that we’ve been building towards since issue #1. So the best is still coming, with the finale of Rotworld and our shocking storyline ending in Swampy #18.
After that, Swampy will continue with an exciting new team, to be announced soon. Please give them the love and support you’ve shown us. They certainly have our blessing.

Again everyone, can’t thank you all enough for this one. You guys made this gig a dream come true in every way, corny as that sounds. I thank you, team Swampy thanks you – and from deep in the swamp, Alec Holland, Abby Arcane, The Parliament, even Uncle Anton thanks you, too.

I love Scott Snyder and I will follow any book he writes, it is just sad to see him leave a book that he brought back to life. I am looking forward to The Wake, I think that Snyder does his best work when it’s his own characters. If you haven’t pick up his collection of short stories Voodoo Heart.

Another departure by a well liked writer, this time Gail Simone from one of her best, and one of the 52’s best books, Batgirl. Strange thing is that Simone had no idea about this!! Check out her Twitter posts!

We’ll have some more updates for you as they roll in. Simone’s last issue will be #16, after the Death of a Family arc is over. 🙁

Thanos creator Jim Starlin is working on a mysterious title for DC! This is exciting news, here is what Starlin had to say:

“I have just completed scripting the first two issues of an on-going series for DC Comics. Can’t say what the title is until DC wants the news out. But I imagine a lot of people will be quite surprised to see me take over the writing chores on this particular property. Been having a (surprisingly) fun time with it so far.

New Gods related anyone? I’m calling it!! He did write Death of the New Godsafter all, and they are making their triumphant return in Wonder Woman!!!